Sound field calibration using listener localization

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus to calibrate sounds fields are disclosed. An example device includes a location sensor receiving location data, a processor triangulating the position of a listener based on the location data, and an audio processing component generating a sound field with audio characteristics based on the position of the listener.

We claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 one or more sensors to receive first location data associated with the apparatus; 
 a network interface to receive second location data from a second apparatus, the network interface different from the one or more sensors, the second apparatus to generate a second sound field during playback of media, the second apparatus different from the apparatus and the second apparatus to be in communication with the apparatus; 
 an audio processing component to generate a first sound field during playback of the media; and 
 a processor to:
 determine, using the first location data and the second location data, a distance of a first listener from the apparatus; 
 determine, using the first location data and the second location data, a distance of a second listener from the second apparatus; 
 modify the first sound field based on the distance of the first listener; and 
 facilitate modification of the second sound field based on the distance of the second listener. 
 
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the processor and the audio processing component are the same. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include an infrared receiver and a camera. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the first location data includes infrared signals and video data. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include a microphone. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the first location data includes acoustic wave information. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the first location data includes a timestamp. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors receive a packet with an associated Received Signal Strength Indicator signal. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is to modify the first sound field by adjusting a first audio characteristic of the first sound field, the first audio characteristic to include at least one of volume level, bass level, or Digital Signal Processing effects. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is to triangulate the distance of the first listener in real-time. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the processor is to triangulate the distance of the first listener using a multiple-device configuration. 
     
     
       12. A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a first zone player, first location data associated with the first zone player, the first zone player generating a first sound field during playback of media; 
 receiving, at the first zone player, second location data associated with a second zone player, the second zone player generating a second sound field during playback of the media, wherein the second zone player is different from the first zone player and the second zone player is in communication with the first zone player; 
 triangulating, at the first zone player using the first location data and the second location data, a distance of a first listener from the first zone player; 
 triangulating, at the first zone player using the first location data and the second location data, a distance of a second listener from the second zone player; and 
 modifying the first sound field based on the distance of the first listener and the second sound field based on the distance of the second listener. 
 
     
     
       13. A method as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 updating the first location data in real-time; and 
 updating the second location data in real-time. 
 
     
     
       14. A method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein if the received first location data or the received second location data is null, then the respective zone player returns to a default sound field. 
     
     
       15. A method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the first location data or the second location data is associated with a plurality of listeners. 
     
     
       16. A computer readable storage device or storage disc storing instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to execute a method, comprising:
 facilitating collecting, at a first multimedia playback device, first location information associated with the first multimedia playback device, the first multimedia playback device to generate a first sound field during playback of an audio signal; 
 facilitating receiving, at the first multimedia playback device, second location information associated with a second multimedia playback device, the second multimedia playback device to generate a second sound field during playback of the audio signal, the second multimedia playback device different from the first multimedia playback device and the second multimedia playback device to be in communication with the first multimedia playback device; 
 determining, at the first multimedia playback device using the first location information, a distance of a first listener from the first multimedia playback device; 
 determining, at the first multimedia playback device using the second location information, a distance of a second listener from the second multimedia playback device; 
 calibrating the first sound field based on the distance of the first listener; and 
 facilitating adjusting the second sound field based on the distance of the second listener. 
 
     
     
       17. A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the sensor is integrated in the first multimedia playback device. 
     
     
       18. A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the sensor is external to the first multimedia playback device. 
     
     
       19. A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of a camera, an infrared receiver, a radio frequency receiver or a microphone. 
     
     
       20. A computer readable medium as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the sensor collects the first location information in real-time.